Lonely Planet Pacific Coast Highways Road Trips

Brett Atkinson

Description

Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher Whether exploring your own backyard or somewhere new, discover the freedom of the open road with Lonely Planet's Pacific Coast Highway's Road Trips. Featuring four amazing road trips, plus up-to-date advice on the destinations you'll visit along the way, you can journey through verdant redwood parks or follow bewitching ribbons of coastal highway, all with your trusted travel companion. Jump in the car, turn up the tunes, and hit the road! Inside Lonely Planet's Pacific Coast Highway's Road Trips : Lavish color and gorgeous photography throughout Itineraries and planning advice to pick the right tailored routes for your needs and interests Get around easily - easy-to-read, full-color route maps, detailed directions Insider tips to get around like a local, avoid trouble spots and be safe on the road - local driving rules, parking, toll roads Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Useful features - including Stretch Your Legs, Detours, Link Your Trip Covers San Francisco, Northern Redwood Coast, Pacific Coast, Big Sur, Santa Barbara County, Los Angeles, Disneyland & Orange County, San Diego and more The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet's Pacific Coast Highway's Road Trips is perfect for exploring the Pacific Coast Highway in the classic American way - by road trip! Planning a Pacific Coast Highway trip sans a car? Lonely Planet's California guide, our most comprehensive guide to California, is perfect for exploring both top sights and lesser-known gems, or check out Best ofCalifornia, a photo-rich guide to the destination's most popular attractions.About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and phrasebooks for 120 languages, and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, video, 14 languages, 12 international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day. Lonely Planet enables the curious to experience the world fully and to truly get to the heart of the places they find themselves, near or far from home.

Informations

• Publié par: Lonely Planet
• Date de parution: 01 février 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 2
• EAN13: 9781787012127
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 48 Mo

Extrait

CONTENTS

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Welcome to Pacific Coast Highways
Pacific Coast Highways Map
Pacific Coast Highways Highlights
San Francisco City Guide
Los Angeles City Guide
Need to Know

ROAD TRIPS

1 Pacific Coast Highways 7–10 Days
2 Bay Area Culinary Tour 2–3 Days
3 Disneyland & Orange County Beaches 2–4 Days
DESTINATIONS

San Diego, Orange County & Los Angeles
San Diego
Orange County
San Clemente
Laguna Beach
Crystal Cove State Park
Newport Beach
Huntington Beach
Disneyland & Anaheim
Los Angeles
Santa Barbara & the Central Coast
Santa Barbara
Central Coast
Pismo Beach
Monterey
Santa Cruz
San Francisco & the Bay Area
San Francisco
The Bay Area
Berkeley
Sebastopol
Petaluma
Point Reyes Station
Point Reyes National Seashore
North Coast & Redwoods
Point Arena
Mendocino
Fort Bragg
Eureka
Redwood National & State Parks

CALIFORNIA DRIVING GUIDE
Driver’s License & Documents
Insurance
Renting A Vehicle
Border Crossing
Maps
Roads & Conditions
Road Rules
Parking
Fuel
Safety

Behind the Scenes
Our Writers
Index
WELCOME TO PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAYS

Starry-eyed newbies head to the Golden State to find fame and fortune, but you can do better. Come for the landscapes, stay for the farm-fresh and global fusion food, and glimpse the future in the making on America’s creative coast.
     The trips in this book will take you along the breezy, wildlife-rich Pacific Coast highways, from the famed Southern Californian beaches of Orange County and San Diego and the open roads of Big Sur, through to the towering redwoods of Northern California. Take time out to explore the vineyards of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, the chilled-out beach cities of Monterey and Santa Cruz, and the big-city lights of San Francisco and Los Angeles.
     From backcountry lanes to beachside highways, we’ve got something for you.

Golden Gate Bridge CAN BALCIOGLU/GETTY IMAGES ©

PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAYS HIGHLIGHTS
Redwoods
Nothing compares to the awe you’ll feel while walking underneath these ancient trees.

PETER BURNETT/GETTYIMAGES ©

San Francisco
Marvel at the twinkling lights across the Bay Bridge from the Ferry Building, the city’s monument to trailblazing local, sustainable food.

ENGEL CHING/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Hearst Castle
Stop and stare at the sprawling landmark to eccentricity known as Hearst Castle. Pictured left is the Doges Suite Sitting Room at Hearst Castle.

COURTESY HEARST CASTLE® ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ©
CITY GUIDE

Lombard Street F11PHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
SAN FRANCISCO
Ride the clanging cable cars up unbelievably steep hills, snake down Lombard St’s famous hairpin turns, cruise through Golden Gate Park and drive across the arching Golden Gate Bridge. Then go get lost in the creatively offbeat neighborhoods of California’s capital of weird.
Getting Around
Avoid driving downtown. Cable cars are slow and scenic (single ride $7). Muni streetcars and buses are faster but infrequent after 9pm (fares $2.25). BART (tickets from $1.95) runs high-speed Bay Area trains. Taxis cost $2.75 per mile; meters start at $3.50.
Parking
Street parking is scarce. Meters take coins, sometimes credit or debit cards; central pay stations accept coins or cards. Overnight hotel parking averages $35 to $55; downtown parking garages start at $2.50 per hour or $30 per day.
Where to Eat
The Ferry Building, Mission District and South of Market (SoMa) are foodie faves. Don’t miss the city’s outdoor farmers markets. Head to North Beach for Italian, Chinatown for dim sum and the Mission District for Mexican flavors.
Where to Stay
The Marina is near the family-friendly waterfront and Fisherman’s Wharf. Union Square and SoMa are most expensive, but conveniently located for walking.
Useful Websites
San Francisco Travel ( www.sanfrancisco.travel ) Destination info, events calendar and accommodations bookings.
SF Station ( www.sfstation.com ) Nightlife, restaurants, shopping, events and the arts.
Lonely Planet ( www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/san-francisco ) Travel tips, travelers’ forums, and hotel and hostel bookings.
Trips Through San Francisco:
Destination coverage: Click here

Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood SEAN PAVONE/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
LOS ANGELES
Loony LA is the land of starstruck dreams and Hollywood magic. You may think you know what to expect: celebrity worship, Botoxed blondes and endless traffic. But it’s also California’s most ethnically diverse city, with new immigrants arriving daily, infusing LA’s ever-evolving arts, music and food scenes.
Getting Around
Freeway traffic jams are endless, but worst during extended morning and afternoon rush hours. LA’s Metro operates slower buses and speedier subway and light-rail trains (fares $1.75), with limited night services. DASH minibuses (single ride 50¢) zip around downtown. Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus (fare $1.25) connects West LA. Taxis cost $2.70 per mile; meters start at $2.85.
Parking
Street parking is limited. Meters take coins, sometimes credit or debit cards; central pay stations accept coins or cards. Valet parking is ubiquitous, typically $5 to $10 plus tip. Overnight hotel parking averages $30 to $50.
Where to Eat
Food trucks and pop-up kitchens are a local obsession. Downtown LA cooks up a global mix, with Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Thai Town, Koreatown and Latin-flavored East LA nearby. Trendsetting eateries pop up in Hollywood, Santa Monica and Venice.
Where to Stay
For beach life, escape to Santa Monica or Venice. Long Beach is convenient to Disneyland and Orange County. Party people adore Hollywood and West Hollywood (WeHo). Culture vultures head to Downtown LA.
Useful Websites
LA Inc ( www.discoverlosangeles.com ) City’s official tourism website for trip planning.
LA Weekly ( www.laweekly.com ) Arts, entertainment, dining and an events calendar.
Trips Through Los Angeles:
Destination coverage: Click here
NEED TO KNOW

CURRENCY
US dollars ($)
LANGUAGE
English
VISAS
Generally not required for citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries with ESTA approval (apply online at least 72 hours in advance).
FUEL
Gas stations are everywhere, except in national parks and sparsely populated areas. Expect to pay around $3 per US gallon.
RENTAL CARS
Car Rental Express ( www.carrentalexpress.com )
Enterprise ( www.enterprise.com )
Simply Rent-a-Car ( www.simplyrac.com )
Super Cheap! Car Rental ( www.supercheapcar.com )
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
American Automobile Association (AAA; 800-922-8228)
Emergencies ( 911)
Highway conditions ( 800-427-7623)

When to Go
Climate

High Season (Jun–Aug)
A Accommodations prices up 50% to 100% on average.
A Major holidays are even busier and more expensive.
A Summer is low season in the desert, where temperatures exceed 100°F (38°C).
Shoulder (Apr–May & Sep–Oct)
A Crowds and prices drop, especially on the coast and in the mountains.
A Mild temperatures and sunny, cloudless days.
A Typically wetter in spring, drier in autumn.
Low Season (Nov–Mar)
A Accommodations rates lowest along the coast.
A Chilly temperatures, frequent rainstorms and heavy snow in the mountains.
A Winter is peak season in SoCal’s desert regions.
Daily Costs
Budget: Less than $75
A Hostel dorm beds: $25–55
A Take-out meal: $6-12
Midrange: $75–200
A Two-star motel or hotel double room: $75–150
A Rental car per day, excluding insurance and gas: $30–75
Top End: Over $200
A Three-star hotel or beach resort room: $150–300
A Three-course meal in top restaurant: $75–100
Eating
Roadside diners & cafes Cheap and simple.
Beach shacks Casual burgers, shakes and seafood.
National, state & theme parks Mostly so-so, overpriced cafeteria-style or deli picnic fare.
Eating price indicators represent the average cost of a main course at dinner:
$ less than $15
$$ $15 to $25
$$$ more than $25
Sleeping
Motels & hotels Ubiquitous along well-trafficked highways and in busy tourist areas.
Camping & cabins Ranges from rustic campsites to luxury ‘glamping’ resorts.
B&Bs Quaint, romantic inns in urban and rural areas.
Hostels Cheap and basic; almost exclusively in cities.
Sleeping price indicators represent the average cost of a double room with private bathroom during high season:
$ less than $100
$$ $100 to $250
$$$ more than $250
Arriving in California
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Taxis to most destinations ($30 to $50) take 30 minutes to one hour. Door-to-door shuttles ($16 to $27) operate 24 hours. FlyAway bus runs to Downtown LA ($9). Free airport shuttles to LAX City Bus Center & Metro Rail station.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Taxis into the city ($35 to $55) take 25 to 50 minutes. Door-to-door shuttles ($16 to $20) operate 24 hours. BART trains to downtown San Francisco ($8.95, 30 minutes) leave the airport between 5:30am and 11:45pm daily.
Cell Phones
The only foreign phones that will work in the USA are GSM multiband models. Network coverage is often spotty in remote and rural areas.
Internet Access
Wi-fi (free or fee-based) is available at most lodgings and coffee shops. Cybercafes ($6 to $12 per hour) are mostly in cities.
Money
ATMs are widely available. Credit cards are accepted almost universally and are usually required for reservations.
Tipping
Tipping is expected, not optional. Standard tipping is 18% to 20% in restaurants, 15% for taxi drivers, $1 minimum per drink in bars and $2 per bag for porters.
Opening Hours
Businesses, restaurants and shops may close earlier and on additional days during the off-season (usually winter, except summer in the deserts).
Bars 5pm-2am daily
Business hours (general) 9am-5pm Monday to Friday
Restaurants 7:30am-10:30am, 11:30am-2:30pm and 5pm-9pm daily, some later Friday and Saturday
Shops 10am-6pm Monday to Saturday, noon-5pm Sunday (malls open later)
Useful Websites
California Travel & Tourism Commi